Every week you write 7 new pages. Every month you have a new chapter and every year you have another hard cover bound book in the long running series that is all about you.

Like all best sellers it has a bit of everything. Sometimes there’s action and suspense. Sometimes their laughter and sometimes tears. Sometimes its depressing, like really depressing. You’re crying your eyes out its that sad. But then from out of nowhere the hero or heroine finds an inner strength, finds a super power they never knew they had and then things get really interesting!

Sometimes the words just fly form the pages and sometimes not much happens for a while but the tiny details hook you in. It’s quite an art-house book if you think about it.

You’re never sure if this is non-fiction or not. But really, who could make this stuff up right?

Sometimes some books look alot like previous books. You’re not sure if the writer ran out of ideas or got stuck in a loop. But then you realise the author was just setting you up for a comeback.

Some books are written in a totally different font. Some chapters are written in blood, sweat and tears. Some lines are written in crayon (when you were learning to write). Some characters continue on from past books, some leave, many stay and some characters die. You’re pretty sure this is a romantic love story, action adventure, suspense comedy. Sometimes there’s zombies and vampires.

But you’ve always wanted to bust genres.

Regardless of what some of the ‘critics’ say its a pretty engrossing read. You never know what will happen next. The one thing you can’t believe is that the book is already written. It’s not. It’s always BOTH a ‘work in progress’ and a ‘final edition’. It’s always being written in the present. The ink is barely dry, if you’re fast enough you might actually white out the last line.

If you’re unhappy with the current sentence thats ok just don’t write the rest of the chapter in that style. If you’ve already written the chapter and you’re unhappy with it already thats ok just don’t continue the next book that way. If you’ve already finished the the book thats ok you can start a new book and while it may not be your best work, the next books are bound to be off the charts. (Psst – you got like anther 50- 70 books you can write right??) If you’re unhappy with your sentence, your page or your chapter don’t fret. All the best selling books read like the book you’re currently writing.

It’s called The Hero’s Journey.

The universe LOVES this type of story and the film adaptation is already in the works.

Mother Teresa once said ‘Allow yourself to be a pencil in the hand of God.’ Her book was so good its free now.

Allow yourself to write and be written by God. You have a destiny but you play an important role in making your mark on the page.

What already has been written is in the past. It’s already out the door. You can’t control how others will read it, you can’t control what the ‘critics’ will say.

All you can control are the words you write right now. FOCUS on that.

Realise that you can turn the page, anytime, and write a new line, a better chapter, an award winning story.

I’ve just returned from a a couple of days in Las Vegas attending Digital Altitude’s first Marketing Mastery event. Overall it was an exceptional event.

It was my first time travelling to the United States, the first time to Las Vegas, the first time meeting a lot of the leadership in Digital Altitude. But the real highlight was meeting one very special lady…

A couple of days before I left I posted a quick FB post that I was off to travel to Las Vegas for the first time and of all the people my Aunty Vanna saw the post and said we HAD TO meet!

Long story short: My Aunty Vanna was a long lost aunt. We haven’t met since the Cambodian civil war separated each other back in 1979 and I was a year old.

It’s a long heart wrenching story, but because of the freedom afforded via internet marketing, we finally got to close that chapter and finally connect.

Here’s a short video that was shared on FB and had a lot of traction on my wall.

So the highlight was finally meeting this very special lady, we had lunch and dinner, walked the Vegas strip and spoke until 3am in the morning two nights in a row!

Back to the event.

A confession of a traveller

I really like travelling. Not just getting there but even the process of getting there.

They say enjoy the journey but they don’t really mean it. I REALLY enjoy the journey.

I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I find the whole process a wonderful experience. Long queues don’t bother me. Delays don’t bother me. Airline food is surprisingly sufficient and plentiful.

Give me two things:

In flight entertainment.

A phone charger outlet

I’m good.

Bonus: Free airport wifi.

I’m really good then.

Seriously compared to what people had to endure a hundred years ago to travel we’re practically gods flying around in winged carriages rather than the weeks or month by land or sea you had to endure.

Travelling today is essentially witnessing the miracle that is flight. Louis CK said it best here:

I even see the process of security as a wonderful thing. Taking off my shoes and belt and dropping off my electronics is like shedding a second skin…

Ok so thats kinda weird.

I like travelling ok?

And don’t get me started on the excitement of seeing the ground rush away from you and the landscape of the earth below…

Living in Perth, WA means travel for me is never a short thing. Travelling to Vegas was 3 stops and 24 hours later.

But what is travel these days? 2-3 movies, a nap and 2 hot meals in relative comfort. Am I right??

Las Vegas and America.

I really like Americans. There I said it. I know its the in thing to bash america but say what you want but their people are cool.

My uber drivers were cool. The waiters were very attentive. The bag guys were ridiculously cheerful. And all the leaders in Digital Altitude stunningly down to earth.

Until they got on the stage. Then they rocked it!

Maybe its because Vegas is built on tourism but dammit – everyone was so damn nice. And everyone used manners.

It was always “Sir Sir”, “you’re welcome sir”, “Three bags full sir?”

They think I have a great accent. i like theirs. Its a win/win situation.

In general they’re optimists, they’re curious and genuinely pleasant.

One thing I did notice though.

Thats not a car. Thats a tank!

Their cars. Daaaaamn. They’re big. Everything is a muscle bound, huge version of a big car here in Australia. The roads are big. The food is big. The building are YUGE. Everything is supersize.

What that meant was it gave you more time to be immersed in the actually event and its training.

Good choice Michael. Well played.

Ok finally to the Digital Altitude Event.

The Digital Altitude Marketing Mastery Event.

Every event is about the big things and the little things. On both accounts Digital Altitude excelled.

A huuuuge, huge thank you to Shannon Lavenia, John Lavenia and the support and event team of running a beautifully run ship.

The big things:

Michael knew how to treat the VIPS and top earners. This started on Thursday night with a leadership and top earners dinner at the the Stack. Followed by a show and night caps in the MGM.

There was a VIP & coaches meet and greet on the Friday afternoon by the pool. There was a Vip lunch on Saturday and the VIP drinks at the bowling alley complete with impersonators and card trick magician was a a hit!

1000+ packed the registration hall. It was controlled pandemonium! Red Rock is MADE for events. As you pass the gorgeous entrance, past the lobby, up the stairs you see a big REGISTRATION sign embalmed in gold. (In case the 1000+ people standing in line didn’t give you a hint)

People were taking pictures. I was hugging students and old friends left right and centre. A white Yeti with skiers were having a jolly good time. T-shirts were flung into the air. It wasn’t a registration it was party!

The ballroom was big yet intimate. Music pervaded your senses. The stage was a long run way with a long chrystal clear screen that anyone could see form any direction.

Michael was great. The speakers were awesome. Stories were shared. Marketing tactics flowed like wine. Q & A were given. Prizes dispensed. It was a tour-de-force.

It wasn’t a pitch fest. I hardly even noticed one. No one run to the back of the room. But people bought.

The marketing content was spot on. It was varied. It was actionable. It was centred around the beginner marketer. And if that was you – you were aptly served.

The Little things

In the corner of the stage there was always a person doing sign language for the hearing impaired.

Around the corner of the ballroom was the VIP section freshly stacked with pastries and hot coffee and teas for last minute nibbles.

Every speaker gave out a printable action guide with checklists to take home and complete.

For those who missed the slides there was an app where you could download the handouts. Thank you!!

All the presentations keynotes had a clear and congruent style so you could focus on the message. (thanks again Shannon).

Speakers were in the crowd, were accessible and gave freely. VIP or not.

It was a Giving-fest.

But it all wasn’t perfect.

The first 30 mins to an 1 hour of the event the AV didn’t work so we couldn’t see keynote slides. This should have been sorted and tested before the event.

If you’re an experienced marketer who knows what they’re doing then the content wasn’t anything you wouldn’t know. It was aimed squarely at the beginner. But while the content was consumer level the networking was priceless.

Not enough time in the pool.

There was a small glitch in the contest drawing for prizes. Next time!

Not everyone wanted to wear the coat and beanie in their prize winning photo (I’m talking to the pretty boy who was Jason Stone).

There was no Maserati on stage for the first prize winner to drive off on. Yes, unforgivable.

And finally, I have to say it, and I’m not happy to say it because I didn’t see myself as a snob in this area…

But the hotel coffee was terrible. The coffee in the starbucks was like liquid burnt ash.

I went to 5 places and their coffee was drinkable in a distasteful kind of way.

It wasn’t until I flew back into Sydney and ordered an airport cuppocino did my senses return and I had a hit of frothy coffee-gasm.

(Yes, thats a word).

Get your act together America!

Last words

Congrats to Michael and the Digital Altitude team for hosting an amazing event. The location was great. The calibre of the event and the calibre of the speakers was exceptional. You really took care of EVERYONE.

Something very special was created. And it makes you hungry for more.

Being here at the beginning makes it all the more special.

I met long lost Aunties, reconnected with old friends, met new ones. Had great food and put on 2 kilos!

I can neither confirm nor deny I married someone named Sharron Stone in a drive by wedding.

There’s nothing like coming back from a week in Las Vegas and looking at the scales after you’ve been gorging yourself on buffets and fine food to make you say ‘Enough is enough!’

When I stepped on the scales I saw 75kg. This is THE heaviest I’ve ever been!

Even worse the engorge belly and the overweight feeling was even worse!

So in the spirit of health and accountability here’s my next two month goals.

My health routine & goals:

My goal is to lose 5 kilos by 1st Jan but also to be in decent fitness. i.e Be able to do 100 consecutive pushups and run 5km in under 30 mins.

– Currently I do a 12 minute body workout similar to GOYA (atleast 5 times a week) , there’s a great App aptly called 12 Minute Athlete – I’m doing the Couch to 5K training running program and there’s a great app for that too C25K. I’m running at least 3 times a week – To develop my pushups I have the PushUp Pro app (daily) – On Sundays I do a longer but slower run of up to an hour. – I have an accountability partner who’ll run with me weekly

I also have been keeping a food diary. Trying to increase my greens. I have a Isagenix shake daily. And I’m off junk food and soft drinks.

Why Apps?

A friend said on FB that I was the app King! I don’t know about that but I do know myself! Lol

I’m inherently lazy. So apps help remind me, record the metrics I need and give me the workout to do in a freindly but robotic way – meaning it’s not personal. The app doesn’t care whether I do my workouts or not, but I do! They just make it easy for me to do them!